Banged-up Manning will play Sunday

Against Chiefs

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - The MRI determined the hit caused no further damage to Peyton Manning's tender right ankle.

Now, Manning and the Broncos are curious what the NFL thinks of that hit.

Interim coach Jack Del Rio said the Broncos have sent replays to the league of Corey Liuget's dive at Manning's ankles in the closing minutes of Denver's 28-20 win against San Diego.

"In the rules, there are certain areas you can hit and certain areas that are supposed to be protected," Del Rio said Monday. "And we thought that got into an area that was supposed to be protected."

Manning, whose ankles have been hurting since games against Jacksonville and Indianapolis last month, stayed down after Liuget dove at him following a completed pass that iced the game with 1:44 left. Manning limped through the rest of the game and in the locker room afterward.

An MRI on Monday showed no further damage to the ankle, which was heavily taped throughout the Chargers game. Del Rio said Manning would play Sunday in Denver's AFC West showdown against Kansas City. The quarterback's practice schedule will be determined later in the week.

"But he'll definitely play this week," Del Rio said. "He's ready to roll and that's good news."

Manning got sacked two times against the Chargers and hit five more. He's been sacked a total of 12 times and hit 27 in the seven games since Chris Clark replaced the injured Ryan Clady at left tackle. In three straight games, Clark has allowed Manning to be sacked and stripped from the blind side.

And next up come the Chiefs, who lead the league with 36 sacks, including 11 by Justin Houston and nine by Tamba Hali.

"We're definitely on high alert, wanting to protect our quarterback," Del Rio said.